Frasier? That’s the beauty of it
The idea of Kelsey Grammer playing a sapphire-colored, animalistic mutant named Beast in the new “X-Men: The Last Stand” may seem a bit odd.
But after 20 years as TV’s pointy-headed psychiatrist Frasier Crane, Grammer, 51, is making the unlikely leap to sci-fi action star – and the sense of sophistication he brings to the role is part of the joke.
Beast (real name Hank McCoy), a towering, fanged, fur-covered creature, also is a scholar with a love for science, poetry and history who serves as the Secretary of Mutant Affairs.
“He’s a man of intellect and also has extraordinary physical capabilities … and blue fur,” says Grammer.
How did he get the role?
“It just came up out of the blue,” Grammer quips. “They said, ‘We want you to play this character named Beast,’ and I thought, ‘Well … something in the name certainly is catchy.’
“So my wife just said to me, ‘Beast? Yeah, you should play that.’ “
More ‘Code’ green?
Protesters, start your engines: Sony has signed “The Da Vinci Code” screenwriter Akiva Goldsman to do the screenplay for author Dan Brown‘s first thriller, “Angels & Demons,” which basically puts forth the same controversial Christian theories as “Code” – which has grossed $231.8 million worldwide in its first five days.
There’s no word on whether Tom Hanks or Ron Howard would return for the prequel.
Madonna still childish
The Catholic League is none too pleased with Madonna‘s latest stunt: crucifying herself on a mirrored cross in her new stage show.
“Knock off the Christ-bashing,” league president Bill Donohue said in a prepared statement. “It’s just pathetic.”
Donohue said that while Madonna “has been spicing up her act with misappropriated Christian imagery for a long time,” he thought that her recent faith in Kabbalah might inspire new respect for religion.
Pocket it, man
Elton John has accepted $188,000 in libel damages from a newspaper that said he asked guests not to approach him at a charity ball.
The publisher of London’s The Daily Mail paid the damages. The Sunday Times, which reprinted the Mail article, agreed to a confidential settlement earlier this year.
Gathering some moss
The Rolling Stones have postponed the first 15 dates of their European tour as guitarist Keith Richards recovers from a head injury.
The European leg of the band’s “A Bigger Bang” tour, which had been due to start Saturday in Barcelona, Spain, will now begin in July at a venue and city to be announced.
Richards, 62, was injured April 27 while vacationing in Fiji. News reports claimed he fell out of a palm tree and/or from a jet ski.
The birthday bunch
Songwriter Hal David is 85. Country singer Tom T. Hall is 70. Actor Ian McKellen (“Lord of the Rings”) is 67. Actress Dixie Carter is 67. Actress-singer Leslie Uggams is 63. Actress Connie Sellecca is 51. Actor-comedian Mike Myers is 43. Actress Anne Heche is 37. Actor Jamie Kennedy (“Scream”) is 36. Singer Lauryn Hill is 31. Actor Ethan Suplee (“My Name Is Earl”) is 30.